Biological Science Technician (Plants) Job

Vacancy No. PW-1548-SR-25-12597736-DE Department National Park Service
Salary $21.14 to $34.20 Grade 6 to 8
Perm/Temp Temporary FT/PT Part-time
Open Date 11/18/2024 Close Date 12/2/2024
Job Link Apply Online Who may apply Public
Locations:
Kings Canyon National Park, CASequoia National Park, CAYosemite National Park, CAAshland, OR


Summary

The Pacific West Region is recruiting for summer seasonal Biological Science Technician (Plants), GS-0404-6/7/8 positions.

The typical seasonal entry-on-duty period is April-May, but can be variable during these months due to weather conditions, project needs, or funding. Anticipated Entry on Duty: May 2025.

Open to the first 350 applicants or until 12/02/2024 whichever comes first. All applications submitted by 11:59 (EST) on the closing day will receive consideration.

This job is open to

Clarification from the agency

The Pacific West Region is recruiting for TEMPORARY seasonal positions not to exceed 1039 hours work in a service year. Dates of employment will vary between park sites depending on funding, weather conditions and visitation. Within regulatory limitations, the length of initial appointment may be shortened or extended depending on work availability and funding.

Duties

Multiple positions will be filled at multiple locations. Pay rates, start dates and amount of travel required will vary based on duty location. These seasonal positions cover plant-related work in three different fields:
Klamath Inventory and Monitoring Network: Ashland, OR (GS-06,7 only) NOT a telework eligible position, You may be expected to travel for this position up to 16 nights/month, Regular Drivers License required.
Sequoia and Kings Canyon NP : Sequoia and Kings Canyon, CA Telework eligible position with supervisors approval, You may be expected to travel for this position up to 15 nights/month, Regular Drivers License required.
Mount Rainier NP : Longmire, Ashford and Packwood, WA (GS-06,7 only) Telework eligible position with supervisors approval, You may be expected to travel for this position up to 22 nights/month, Drivers License may be required.
North Cascades NP: Marblemount, WA Government housing may be available, You may be required to travel overnight away from home up to 22 nights per month, Drivers license, may be required.
Olympic NP: Port Angeles WA (GS-07 Only) Not a telework eligible position, You may be expected to travel for this position up to 3 nights/month, Drivers license MAY be required.
Yosemite NP: Yosemite, CA Telework eligible position with supervisors approval, You may be expected to travel for this position up to 16 nights/month, Drivers license MAY be required.

  • Lead Field crews to implement vegetation and ecological restoration project work.
  • Make field observations of natural resource conditions. Record all data collected and ensure adequate quality control. Perform routine and recurring testing of collected samples.
  • Utilize a variety of computer programs to compile, reduce, store, retrieve, and report data and other resource management information.
  • Conduct routine resource monitoring programs for evaluating rare, threatened and endangered plant species, vegetation communities, population dynamics, ecosystem relationships, and public health/safety issues. Carry out a variety of field activities such as the plant surveys, control of non-native and invasive plant or insect species, revegetation, and enhancement of native plant populations.
  • Utilize databases to enter and organize collected field data and uses standard statistical methods in the preparation of draft reports.
  • Assist in preparing reports, plans, and guidelines. Maintain and organize computer databases.
  • Install, operate, and maintain resource management equipment. Perform equipment inventories, evaluate quality assurance compliance, order and calibrate parts and equipment/supplies.
  • Provide training to others involved in resource management projects and field research.
At the GS-07 level, in addition to duties listed above, you may:
  • Assist staff in planning field research and resource monitoring programs. Schedule, coordinate and carry out a variety of field activities.
  • Develop and using databases to enter, organize and perform preliminary analysis of collected field data using standard statistical methods.
  • Provide work direction and guidance to lower graded technicians, volunteers, or YCC enrollees.
  • Assist in preparing draft news releases and provide information to individuals, local organizations and schools.
At the GS-08 level, in addition to the duties listed above, you may:
  • Coordinate the implementation of scientifically credible ecological restoration or vegetation projects
  • Collect, maintain, summarize, and report on natural resource data in order to ensure highly credible data acquisition and reporting
  • Provides advice, assistance, training to field crews, students, student conservation assistants, and volunteers involved in resource management projects and field research.
  • Assist staff in planning field research and resource monitoring programs. Schedule, coordinate and carry out a variety of field activities.
OLYM NP only: Nursery work includes long hours of standing and performing repetitive tasks.

SEKI NP only: These positions involve forest management / monitoring in both front country and backcountry settings. Duties include tree hazard surveillance and forest pest management. Specific tasks include identification/evaluation of tree defects, tree measurements (i.e., dbh and height), record-keeping, mapping, and data entry into data-logger and/or computer.

MORA NP only: Train and Lead field crews in establishing and measuring whitebark pine monitoring plots in backcountry locations.

YOSE NP only: Serve as construction monitor for vegetation protection in new situations without well-established mitigations.

Klamath I&M Network only: These positions are for crew leads on our vegetation community monitoring and invasive species monitoring protocols. Crews work in remote, backcountry locations collecting long-term vegetation monitoring data.

Requirements

Conditions of Employment

  • U.S. Citizenship required.
  • Appointment subject to background investigation and favorable adjudication.
  • Meet Selective Service Registration Act requirement for males.
  • Selectee will be required to participate in the Direct Deposit Electronics Funds Transfer Program.
  • You may be required to operate a government (or private) motor vehicle as part of your official duties. Prior to your first official motor vehicle operation, and again every year thereafter (or more frequently if management determines such need exists), you will be required to sign an affidavit certifying to your possession of a valid State issued driver's license that is current and has not been revoked, suspended, canceled, or otherwise disqualified in any way to prohibit your operation of a motor vehicle. You will also submit a photocopy of your valid State issued driver's license prior to your first official motor vehicle operation, and again every year, or more frequently if management determines such need exists. Lastly, you may be required to submit (within a State sealed envelope or submitted directly by the State authorities), and at your own expense, all certified driving records from all States that discloses all valid driver's licenses, whether current or past, possessed by you. Please indicate in your application whether you possess a valid State driver's license.
  • You will be required to wear a uniform and comply with the National Park Service uniform standards. A uniform allowance will be provided.
  • Travel, transportation & relocation expenses will not be paid. Relocation expenses will be the employee's responsibility.

Qualifications

All qualifications must be met by 11:59 EST when the 'applicant cut-off' is reached (which may be sooner than 12/02/2024).

Credit will be given for all appropriate qualifying experience. To receive credit for experience, your resume MUST clearly indicate the nature of the duties and responsibilities for each position, starting and ending dates of employment (month/year), and the resume must reflect full and/or part-time or total number of hours worked (i.e., work 40+ hours a week, rather than indicating full-time). If part-time, the hours must be annotated to be able to pro-rate the amount of qualified specialized experience.

To qualify at the GS-06 grade level, you must possess at least one of the following minimum qualifications by close of the announcement:

EXPERIENCE: At least one year of specialized experience comparable in scope and responsibility to the GS-05 grade level in the Federal service (obtained in either the public or private sectors). This experience includes activities such as: 1) executing field studies on plants and plant ecology; 2) working with field crews in non-native plant eradication; 3) implementing vegetation management and monitoring or ecological restoration; 4) reporting data and other resource management information (e.g., natural science research or long-term monitoring projects); and 5) using standard statistical methods in the preparation of draft reports. You must include hours worked per week in your resume.
-OR-
EDUCATION: Successful completion of at least one year of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to a master's degree or equivalent graduate degree with a major study in a directly related field such as biology, plant science, ecology, botany, or agriculture. IMPORTANT - PLEASE NOTE: If you are using education to qualify, you must submit a copy of your transcripts.
-OR-
Successful completion of a COMBINATION of education and experience as described above. To combine education and experience, first take the number of semester hours (or equivalent) earned towards a directly related graduate degree and divide by 18 semester hours (or equivalent). Then take the number of months of full-time experience and divide by 12 months. Add the percentages together. The total must equal at least 100 percent to qualify. You must include hours per week worked and transcripts.

To qualify at the GS-07 grade level, you must possess at least one of the following minimum qualifications by close of the announcement:

EXPERIENCE: At least one year of specialized experience comparable in scope and responsibility to the GS-06 grade level in the Federal service (obtained in either the public or private sectors). This experience includes activities such as: 1) collecting monitoring data on assorted physical restoration and vegetation management projects using specified sampling techniques and procedures; 2) monitoring rare, threatened or endangered (RTE) plants and sensitive plants and updating RTE and sensitive plant maps and files; 3) developing plans and coordinating a diversity of ecological restoration projects (e.g., scheduling personnel, purchasing supplies, developing action plans, implementing the project and completing written and photographic documentation); 4) monitoring construction projects for compliance with natural resource specifications; and 5) leading field crews in exotic plant control or restoration projects. You must include hours worked per week in your resume.
-OR-
EDUCATION: Successful completion of at least one year of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to a master's degree or equivalent graduate degree with a major study in a directly related field such as biology, plant science, ecology, botany, or agriculture. IMPORTANT - PLEASE NOTE: If you are using education to qualify, you must submit a copy of your transcripts.
-OR-
Successful completion of a COMBINATION of education and experience as described above. To combine education and experience, first take the number of semester hours (or equivalent) earned towards a directly related graduate degree and divide by 18 semester hours (or equivalent). Then take the number of months of full-time experience and divide by 12 months. Add the percentages together. The total must equal at least 100 percent to qualify. You must include hours per week worked and transcripts.

To qualify at the GS-08 grade level, you must possess at least one of the following minimum qualifications by close of the announcement:

EXPERIENCE: At least one full year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-07 grade level in the Federal service that is directly related to the position to be filled. Examples of specialized experience include: (1) Coordinate the implementation of scientifically credible ecological restoration or vegetation projects; (2) Collect, maintain, summarize,
and report on natural resource data in order to ensure highly credible data acquisition and reporting; and (3) provides advice, assistance,
and training to field crews, students, student conservation assistants, and volunteers involved in resource management projects and field
research. You must include hours worked per week in your resume.
-OR-
EDUCATION: Successful completion of two years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to a master's degree or equivalent graduate degree with a major study in a directly related field such as biology, plant science, ecology, botany, or agriculture. IMPORTANT - PLEASE NOTE: If you are using education to qualify, you must submit a copy of your transcripts.
-OR-
Successful completion of a COMBINATION of education and experience as described above. To combine education and experience, first take the number of semester hours (or equivalent) earned towards a directly related graduate degree and divide by 18 semester hours (or equivalent). Then take the number of months of full-time experience and divide by 12 months. Add the percentages together. The total must equal at least 100 percent to qualify. You must include hours per week worked and transcripts. You must include hours worked per week in your resume.

Volunteer Experience: Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religious; spiritual; community, student, social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.

ICTAP/CTAP Statement: Current surplus and current or former displaced Federal individuals who have special prior­ity selection rights under the Agency Career Transition Assistance Program (CTAP) or the Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP) must be well qualified for the position to receive consideration for special priority selection. Well qualified means that the applicant meets the following: OPM qualification standards for the position; all selective placement factors, where applicable; special qualifying conditions that OPM has approved for the position, where applicable; is physically qualified with reasonable accommodation, where appropriate to satisfactorily perform the duties of the position upon entry; and is rated by the organization at least at the well qualified level on all competencies.

Education

To qualify based on education, you must submit a legible copy of transcripts from an accredited institution with your name, school name, credit hours, course level, major(s), and grade-point average or class ranking. Transcripts do not need to be official, but if you are selected for this position and you used your education to qualify, you must provide official transcripts before you begin work.

If you are using education completed in foreign colleges or universities to meet qualification requirements, you must show that your education credentials have been evaluated by a private organization that specializes in interpretation of foreign education programs and such education has been deemed equivalent to that gained in an accredited U.S. education program; or full credit has been given for the courses at a U.S. accredited college or university.

Additional information

For additional information about these positions, please contact:
Mount Rainier NP: Beth Fallon, beth_fallon@nps.gov
Olympic NP: Alexandra Reinwald, alexandra_reinwald@nps.gov
Sequoia and Kings Canyon NPs: Tom Warner, tom_warner@nps.gov, Ann Huber, ann_huber@nps.gov, Rich Thiel, rich_thiel@nps.gov
Klamath Inventory and Monitoring Network: Lauren Youngblood, lauren_youngblood@nps.gov
Yosemite National Park: Athena Demetry, athena_demetry@nps.gov

A selectee receiving a first appointment to the Federal Government (Civil Service) is entitled only to the lowest step of the grade for which selected. The display of a salary range on this vacancy shall not be construed as granting an entitlement to a higher rate of pay.

A Recruitment Incentive May Be Authorized for a newly selected employee when appointed to a permanent, temporary, or term position. A Federal employee who is transferring to the National Park Service from another component, bureau or Federal agency and who does not meet the conditions under 5 CFR §575.102 is not eligible for a recruitment incentive.

This announcement may be used to fill additional positions if identical vacancies occur within 90 days of the issue date of the referral certificate.

Non-Competitive Rehire Eligibility: Temporary seasonal employees can only maintain their non-competitive rehire eligibility if they work no more than a combined total of Temporary NTE less than 1040 hours anywhere in the National Park Service (NPS) within their established service year. Accordingly, non-competitive rehire eligibility allows for re-appointment to the same position or another position appropriate for temporary appointment with the same qualification requirements (5 CFR 316.402[b][7]), based on series and grade, anywhere in the major subdivision (NPS).

If you have held a temporary seasonal appointment in the past 12 months and have already worked the maximum temporary appointment less than 1040 hours during that period, you are still welcome to apply. However, please be aware that exceeding the limit of 1040 hours in your established service year will result in the loss of your non-competitive rehire eligibility.

The limit can be exceeded by working multiple temporary seasonal positions that result in a combined total greater than 1040 hours. The limit also can be exceeded by working a single temporary seasonal appointment that exceeds 1040 hours, unless granted an exception by OPM.

Employment may be terminated at any time due to fluctuations in funding levels, project needs, employee performance, or other considerations.

Physical Demands: The work requires regular physical exertion such as walking or climbing over wet, rough, uneven and/or rocky surfaces; bending, crouching, stooping or reaching to observe, collect and record field data. Moderately heavy items, such as packs weighing up to 50 lbs, must be lifted and carried on a regular basis. May be required to hike several miles in a day.

Working Conditions: The work environment varies from office/laboratory settings to field. The work performed in the field involves regular and recurring exposure to extreme weather conditions and terrain, poisonous plants, biting insects and wild animals.

Benefits

A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.

Review our benefits

Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.

How You Will Be Evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

You will be evaluated based on how well you meet the qualifications listed in this vacancy announcement. Your qualifications will be evaluated based on your application materials (e.g., resume, supporting documents), the responses you provide on the application questionnaire, and the result of the additional assessments required for this position. A review of your resume and supporting documentation will be made and compared against your responses to the Assessment Questionnaire to determine if you are qualified for this job. If your resume is incomplete or does not support the responses provided in the Assessment Questionnaire, or if you fail to submit all required documentation, you will be rated 'ineligible', 'not qualified', or your score will be adjusted accordingly. If a determination is made that you have inflated your qualifications or experience, you can lose consideration for this position. Please follow all instructions carefully; errors or omissions can affect your rating.

Candidates will be rated and ranked using Category Rating procedures. These procedures place candidates with veteran's preference above non-preference eligibles within each category. Veterans with a service-connected disability of at least 10 percent are listed in the highest quality category, except when the position being filled is scientific or professional at the GS-09 grade level or higher. Under Category Rating, candidates will be rated and ranked into one of two categories:

  • Well Qualified - applicants possessing experience that exceeds the minimum qualifications of the position including all selective factors and are proficient in most of the requirements of the job
  • Qualified - applicants possessing experience that meets the minimum qualifications of the position including all selective factors and are proficient in some, but not all of the requirements of the job.
You will be evaluated on the following competencies:
  • Botany
  • Reasoning
  • Research
  • Teamwork
  • Technical Competence
  • Technology Application
  • Leadership (GS-07/08 only)
  • Project Management (GS-08 only)

Required Documents

The following documents are required and must be submitted by 11:59 PM (EST) on 12/02/2024:

  1. Resume which includes a list of all significant jobs held and duties performed, dates specified in month and year format, and the resume must reflect full and/or part-time or total number of hours worked (i.e., work 40+ hours a week, rather than indicating full-time). If part-time, the hours must be annotated to be able to pro-rate the amount of qualified specialized experience. If military or civilian, please include your rank and/or grade.
  2. Complete All Required Assessments.
  3. Other Supporting Documents, if applicable, such as:
    • Veterans Preference Documentation:
      • If you are a Discharged, Non-Disabled Veteran, you must submit a copy of your DD-214 showing character of discharge (Member 4 copy), or other Documentation of Service and Separation under Honorable Conditions, as listed on the SF15. If you don't have your DD-214, you may request it after discharge from the National Archives.
      • If you are a veteran within 120 days of discharge, you must submit signed documentation from the Armed Forces certifying: 1) your expected release/retirement from active duty, 2) under honorable conditions, 3) your pay grade/rank/rate at time of discharge, 4) dates of active duty service, 5) any campaign or expeditionary medals received, & 6) dated within 120 days of your separation.
      • If you are a Disabled Veteran, Purple Heart Recipient, or Mother or Spouse of a Disabled or Deceased Veteran, you must submit all additional proof required by the SF15, and if applicable, a completed SF15. You may request a copy of your Department of Veterans Affairs letter from www.ebenefits.va.gov or call 1-800-827-1000 to establish proof of disability.
  4. College transcripts, if qualifying based on education.
  5. Documentation for Interagency/Career Transition Assistance Plan consideration if you are a displaced Federal employee within the local commuting area. You must include: 1) Proof you are a displaced Federal employee, e.g., RIF Separation Notice, Notice of Proposed Removal, etc; 2) SF-50s (Notifications of Personnel Action) showing career/conditional tenure competitive status, promotion potential and duty location; and 3) your most recent performance appraisal. To exercise selection priority, displaced or surplus Federal employees must be rated well-qualified or above 90 on the rating criteria for this position.
Do not submit photographs with your application package. Documents with photographs may not be seen by hiring officials - you must remove your image from any badges, licenses, etc.

Do not upload Adobe portfolio documents. Adobe portfolio documents are not viewable by our agency's staffing offices.

If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements:

Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications. Therefore, provide only the attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.

Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.

How to Apply

To apply for this position: You must complete the occupational questionnaire and submit the documentation specified in the Required Documents section below. To receive consideration, the complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (EST) on 12/02/2024. You must provide documentation to support your claim for each eligibility selected. Please review the required documentation listed in the eligibilities language to ensure you submit the appropriate information. Note: You will only be marked eligible for those eligibilities that you selected and provided the appropriate supporting documentation.

WE DO NOT ACCEPT HARD-COPY OR E-MAIL APPLICATION PACKAGES.

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  2. Start the Application Process by selecting "Start Application."
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  4. Select documents you want included in this application.
  5. Review package to acknowledge your documents were reviewed.
  6. Select if you want to include your demographic information.
  7. After reading and certifying the application is true and submitted in good faith, select "Continue to Agency Site."
  8. Follow onscreen prompts and instructions to complete your application.
  9. Add the supporting documents by indexing your documents with the dropdown.
    • Upload any missing required documents or optional documents.
  10. Review and Submit Application.
  11. While logged in, you can check the status of your application by selecting "+" next to the job title for this position.
  12. You can review or revise your application at any point during the open period of the announcement.
    • To update an application, you should log into your USAJOBS account and select "+" next to the job title for this position. Select "Update Application" for this job.
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Agency contact information

Kelley Kennec
Address
PWR Seasonal Recruitment
333 Bush Street
Suite 500
San Francisco, CA 94104
US
Learn more about this agency

Next steps

Once the Occupational Questionnaire is received you will receive acknowledgement that your submission was successful. If you are among the most qualified candidates and your name is referred to the hiring official, you may be contacted directly for a possible interview. You will be notified of the status of your Application Package at the time candidates are referred for consideration, and when the selection process is complete.


Note: We cannot accept applications on behalf of Federal Agencies. Application instructions are listed within the Job Description.


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